Find-a-Linguist

Welcome to Find-a-Linguist, CIOL's directory of members. This is a free online service which assists businesses and individuals to find a professional, suitably qualified and/or chartered translator, interpreter, tutor or languages specialist.

Get started

To find a qualified, professional linguist, simply enter your required language(s) into the appropriate search box on this page. You can further refine your search criteria when prompted.

You can also check a member's credentials using the member check, including their professional grade of membership. CIOL Associates, Members, Fellows plus Chartered Linguists are eligible to be listed in the directory.

Please use the Find-a-Linguist directory to help you find a languages professional to meet your needs.

Why use a CIOL member?

CIOL members listed in the directory are all professional linguists and have met CIOL's rigorous admissions criteria.

Their qualifications and work experience have been assessed and they have agreed to abide by CIOL's Code of Professional Conduct. Language work in the UK is not regulated but you can be assured that CIOL's members are highly competent language practitioners committed to upholding and maintaining professional standards.

The member check search facility has been designed for users (e.g. agencies, direct clients, organisations) of CIOL members to verify the credentials of any individual member.

Looking for a certified translation?

Unlike many other European countries, the UK does not have a system of ‘sworn' or ‘certified' translators accredited by a particular body. Translations required for official purposes – such as birth, death and marriage certificates, legal documents, academic transcripts, etc. can, however, be ‘self-certified' by any practising translator, including CIOL members and Chartered Linguists. Whilst certification does not in itself guarantee the quality of a translation, it does serve to identify the translator and their credentials and makes them accountable for their work.

You should check with the organisation requesting a certified translation exactly what is required and explain this clearly to the translator when commissioning work from them. It is important to allow enough time for the translation to be completed, certified and sent back to you. Bear in mind that most professional translators will charge a small additional fee, on top of the price of the translation, for certification.

National Register of Public Service Interpreters

NRPSI maintains a register of public service interpreters in the UK, many of whom will also be CIOL members. Established in 1984, you can learn more by visiting the NRPSI website.

Greek Embassy: approved translators / interpreters

The Greek Embassy in the UK will only accept official Greek/English translation and interpretation services that are carried out by CIOL members who are also registered with the Embassy. More information on using this service can be found here.

Acceptable use

Users of the Find-a-Linguist directory agree to abide by the terms & conditions of use. You must not conduct any systematic or automated data collection activities (including without limitation, scraping, data mining, data extraction and data harvesting) in relation to the Find-a-Linguist directory or CIOL website without our express written consent.

The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL), Incorporated by Royal Charter, Registered in England and Wales Number RC 000808.The IoL Educational Trust (IoLET), trading as CIOL Qualifications, Company limited by Guarantee, Registered in England and Wales Number 04297497 and Registered Charity Number 1090263.Registered Office: 7th Floor, 167 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2EA, United Kingdom.